Hello Kitty, goodbye $221,000

Hello Kitty is going platinum. According to Reuters, die-hard collectors can now snap up a 3cm figure of the popular cat in the precious metal, encrusted with 131 diamonds, for just $221,000 a pop. Japan's largest retailer of precious metals, Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo KK, launched the figurine, of which there will be just 30, on Monday, in honour of the character's 30th birthday.

Not that sales of the statuettes will provide a huge boost to the coffers of Sanrio, Hello Kitty's creators, who say their little lady's merchandise brings in US$500 million in sales a year. There's no news yet of a Hong Kong retailer.